Fairmount Park Commission

The mission of the Fairmount Park Commission is to preserve and protect its open space; provide opportunities for recreation; and maintain the landscapes and structures, streams and woodlands that exist within its 8,700 acres. The 63 neighborhood and regional parks managed by the Park Commission comprise the largest municipally operated landscaped park system in the United States.

In addition to managing open spaces, the Park Commission operates numerous and diverse recreation facilities and activities within the Park. These include seven recreation centers; nine day camps; 22 playgrounds; 127 tennis courts at 15 locations; 160 baseball, football, soccer, and softball fields; 35 basketball courts; four outdoor pools; and numerous hiking trails. Many special events also take place in the Park, including several running events, bicycle and antique car races, walk-a-thons, regattas, and small and large picnics, including the Greek Picnic with over 100,000 participants annually from around the country.

Administrative Subunits

Administration and General Support

Operations and landscape Management

Building and Construction

Park Programs

Agency History

The Fairmount Park Commission was established by an Act of Assembly of 26 March 1867 which provided that the Board of Commissioners be composed of the Mayor, Presidents of Select and Common Councils, and two city engineers ex-officio, and of ten unpaid court-appointed citizens.

The Act authorized the City to purchase land for Fairmount Park in order to preserve the purity of the City's water supply and provide a place of public enjoyment for the people of Philadelphia. The Commission was given charge of and responsibility for all park lands vested in the City which Councils would consign to its care. The first of these, and specified by the Act, was the Lemon Hill estate dedicated as Fairmount Park by an ordinance of 28 September 1855. An Act of 14 April 1868 enlarged and defined the specific powers of the Fairmount Park Commission, including the authority to establish a Fairmount Park Guard. The earliest chief extensions of the Commission's jurisdiction included the acquisition of authority over the Wissahickon Valley by ordinance of 4 March 1868, over Hunting Park (dedicated as a City park by an ordinance of 10 July 1856) by virtue of an Act of 15 May 1871. The Commission's organization passed virtually unchanged through the era of the Bullitt Bill and the City charters of 1919 and 1951. In April 1951, the Fairmount Park Commission was incorporated as a part of the Philadelphia City government with the adoption of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter and designated a departmental commission of the Department of Recreation.